January 07, 2009

Reporters Notebooks

Frank Deford, National Public Radio: The football coach is the face of a college, and a lot of boosters and alumni and athletic directors and presidents aren't ready to see a black man out in front and coaching their team.

Rick Bozich, Louisville Courier-Journal: Quarterback Matt Simms, the son of Phil Simms, has decided to transfer from Louisville.

Kevin Donahue, FanBlogs: Is this the last of the crystal ball trophies? BCS trophy maker Waterford Wedgwood PLC has filed for bankruptcy.

David Thomas, Fort Worth Star-Telegram: With only one bowl game remaining, there are a lot of questions. Example: Oregon State 3, Pittsburgh 0. How could a bowl sponsored by a cologne stink?

Paul Newberry, Associated Press: Given its success, it’s easy to see why the Southeastern Conference has become the league everyone else loves to hate. These guys don’t mind tooting their own horn, either, which only adds to the hard feelings emanating from the rest of the country.

Adam Aasen and Amanda Warford, Florida Times-Union: Florida officials say students who choose to celebrate if the Gators win the BCS title might not be excused for missing class.

Micael DiRocco, Florida Times-Union: Florida's Tim Tebow, Brandon Spikes and Percy Harvin will announce whether they will leave school early for the NFL Draft within a week after the title game. The three, however, have already had discussions about possibly doing something the Gators' '04s basketball stars did in 2006: returning as a group.

Jake Curtis, San Francisco Chronicle: The outcome of Thursday's game between Florida and Oklahoma not only will determine the BCS champion but will serve as the decisive evidence on a number of claims.

National Championship Issue: Bash the BCS, but there isn't a system that could determine with 100% accuracy a true national champion.

Darren Sabedra, San Jose Mercury News: Jack Bechta, the agent representing Jim Harbaugh, deflected a report that his client was drawing interest from the New York Jets, St. Louis Rams and Detroit Lions.

Bob Carlton, Birmingham News: A production company that develops movies for HBO has optioned the rights to Warren St. John's 2004 book "Rammer Jammer Yellow Hammer," which chronicles Alabama football enthusiasts as they travel from game to game during the 1999 season.

Bobbi Roquemore, Dallas Morning News: Former Baylor and Kentucky coach Guy Morriss is expected to be named coach at Texas A&M Commerce.

Salt Lake Tribune: Former Utah State coach Brent Guy has been hired to be the linebackers coach at Louisville.